11.20.13

Ranking Member DeFazio: "Another Day Wasted with Talking Points Legislation"

H.R. 2728 would open National Parks, Wildlife Refuges to unregulated drilling

Washington, DC – Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, blasted Republicans on the House floor for proposing legislation that would strip federal agencies’ authority to enforce nearly every public health, safety, and environmental protection related to drilling and drilling impacts. H.R. 2728 would block agency enforcement of the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, oil and gas operations in National Parks and Wildlife refuges, and other critical safety regulations.

“The latest Republican attack on critical health, safety, and environmental protections is being sold as a so-called ‘states’ rights bill’ that would only block a proposed fracking rule. But it is written so poorly, and so broadly, it would essentially strip the federal government’s authority to enforce nearly ­any regulation on the books related to drilling and drilling impacts. It would truly allow companies on public lands to drill anywhere, at anytime, with no rules. Republicans have wasted yet another day with extreme, campaign talking point legislation that has no chance in the Senate,” DeFazio said.

H.R. 2728 passed the Republican-held House on nearly a party line vote, 235 to 187.

Here is a partial list of the federal laws, rules, and regulations that could not be enforced if H.R. 2728 were to become law:

  • The Endangered Species Act
  • The Migratory Bird Treaty Act
  • Oil and gas operations in National Park Service units
  • Oil and gas operations in National Wildlife Refuges
  • Casing & Cementing regulations (casing and cementing was the primary cause of the Deepwater Horizon explosion)
  • Wastewater management regulations
  • Plugging and abandonment regulations
  • Best management practices for oil & gas drilling on public lands
  • Timing limits to protect wildlife
  • Protections for sacred sites, historic trails, fisheries, wetlands

DeFazio also addressed the need for federal fracking regulations today on the House floor. For the video, click here: